Metalworking press



May 19, 1942. w. F. LONGFIELD METALWORKING PRESS Filed Aug. 2.4 1940 10 Sheets-She??l l INVENTOR WILL/A -/VG/:ELD

ATTORNEY May 19, 1942- w. F. L oNGFlELD 2,283,505

METALWORKING PRES S Filed Aug. 2, 1940 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY May 19, 1942. w. F. LoNGFu-:LD 2,283,505

METALWORKING PRESS I Filed Aug. 2. v1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY May 19, 1942- w. F. LONGFIELD 2,283,505

METALWDRK ING PRESS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 lO Sheets-Sheet 4 A rmi/ver May 19, 1942.

W. F. LONGFIELD METALWORKING PRESS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 mvENToR im MM E o/vcF/Ew ATTORNEY May 19, 1942. w. F. oNGF|E|..D

METALWORKING PRESS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 lO SheetsSheet 6 May 19, 1942. w. 4F. LoNGFn-:LD

METALwoRKING PRESS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR I WIL L /A/ EL ONG/75L D 2 f/L ATTORNEY May 19, 1942- w. F. LoNGFu-:LD

METALWORKING PRESS Filed Aug. 2, 194C 10 SheetS-Sheet 8 mn m INVENTOR l IVM L /A/V EL 0/V6F7ELO ATTORN EY May 19, 1942. w. F. LONGFIELD METALWORKING PRESS Filed Aug. 2, 194C l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 lNvENToR ML /A/f f7.4 oww-Mu D ATTORNEY May 19, 1942. w. F.. LQNGFIELD.

METALWORKING PRESS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 INVENTOR W/L l. /A/f EL O/JGF/ELD f// ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1942 l sTATEs PATENT OFFICE ME'rALwonKlNG PRESS Application August 2, 1940, serial No. 349,871

(c1. 11s-3s) 10 Claims.

This invention .relates generally to sheet metal working presses, and more specifically to metal drawing presses equipped with die mechanism comprising a plurality of different dies for progressively performing different operations upon a blank.

The principal object of the invention is the provision in a press of this character of improved automatic means, operated by the crankshaft ofthe press, for receiving preformed blanks from a magazine or loading station and feeding them into the die mechanism, and then transferring them from one die to the next succeeding die in the die mechanism, in timed relation to the operation of the press.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is simple and eicent in operation, and which can be readily adjusted to different sizes and types of work.

Other and more specic objects of the invention will be apparentfrom the following specication and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sheet metal working press embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a1 side elevation thereof looking from the right of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is 'a central vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the die slide and the parts carried thereby in their uppermost positions;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 3, showing the die slide and the dies carried thereby in their lowermost position, that is at the end of the forming stroke;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 5 showing the various parts in the positions they assume after the die slide has completed its downstroke and has moved part way back to its initial position, shown in-Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a sectional side elevation, with a portion of the gear and cam housing removed, taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional rear elevation taken on the line 8 8 .of Figure 7 Figure 9 is anenlarged view similar to Figure 2, with parts brokenaway and part of the gear and cam housing removed;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional rear elevation, taken substantially on kthe line Ill-I0 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line II--H of Figure 1 showing the various parts of the automatic feeding mechanism in the position they assume when the slide is in its uppermost position as shown in Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 12 is a central vertical section taken on the line I2--I2 of Figure 11, the position of the upper or movable die members being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 13 is a transverse section taken on the line |3-I3 of Figure 12 showing the construction of the mechanism for moving the blank feeding mechanism transversely of the press, the front and rearsections being simultaneously moved toward and away from each other;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing parts of the feeding and transfer mechanism in the position they assume after the slide has completed its drawing or forming stroke and has partially completed its return stroke, vbeing in the position shown in Figure 6;

Figure 15 is a View similar to Figure 12 with the various parts being in the same position as shown in Figure 14, and the position of the movable die members being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing parts of the feeding and transfer mechanism in the positions they assume after the die slide has completed its forming stroke and has practically completed'its return stroke, having moved on beyond the position shown in Figures 6, 14 and 15;

Figure 17 is a View similar to Figures 12 and 15 with the various parts being in the same position as shown in Figure 16, and the position of he movable die members being shown in dotted nes;

Figure 18 is a transverse sectional view similar to Figure 13 showing the parts in a different position, and is taken on the line Ill-I8 of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a view similar to Figures 11, 14 and 16 showing parts of the feeding and transfer mechanism in the position they assume just before the slide starts its down or forming stroke;

Figure 20 is a view similar to Figures 12, 15 and 17 with various parts being in the position shown in Figure 19, and the position of the movable die members being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 21 is a detail section taken on the line 2 I--sl of Figure showing the cam and operating levers for operating the mechanism shown in Figures 13 and 18; and

Figure 22 is a detail sectional view illustrating the construction of the cam for operating the suction cup which lifts the blanks from the magazine or loading station into position to be received by the feeding and transfer mechanism.

My'invention as illustrated herein embodies a sheet metal working press of conventional design in which is mounted a die mechanism consisting of a plurality of dies for successively performing different operations upon a blank; an hydraulic blankholder operatively associated with the die which performs the first operation;

a stripping mechanism which strips the stamD- ings from the movable parts of the various dies and forces them down through and out of the stationary parts of the several dies; and means for feeding blanks from a. magazine into the die mechanism and for transferring the stamping from one die to the next succeeding die. The die mechanism, blankholder, stripping mechanism, and the feeding and transfer mechanism are all co-related and are operated in timed relation to each other from the crankshaft of the ress. p The press includes a bed anda pair of uprights 2 extending upwardly therefrom which support a crown 3 on their upper ends; the base, uprights and crown all being rigidly secured together by tie-rods 4 as is standard practice. in presses of this character. A die carrying slide 5 is reciprocally mounted between the uprights 2 by suitable gibs 3, and is reciprocated through connecting rods 1 by a crankshaft 8 rotatably mounted in the crown 3. The crankshaft 8 is rotated through a pair of bull gears 3, one of which is secured t each end thereof. The bull gears 9 mesh with pinion gears I3 secured to opposite ends of a back shaft Il I. The back shaft II has keyed thereto intermediate its ends a gear I2 which meshes with a pinion I3 on a second back shaft I4, which is driven by a motor I and flywheel I3 through a suitable clutch I1. l

A die mechanism for drawing deep cups .of relatively small diameter from preformed ilat 'sheet metal discs is suitably mounted in the press,

the stationary parts of the die mechanism being secured to the bed I and the movable parts thereof being secured to the reciprocal die slide 5. In drawing cups of this kind from at sheet metal discs there is a limit to which the diameter can be reduced in one operation. Consequently, in order to draw relatively deep cups of small diameter from a flat disc it is necessary to do it in several operations, the number of operations depending on the diameter and depth lof the cup. The die mechanism illustrated herein performs three successive operations, the first operation forming a cup from a flat disc and each succeeding operation reducing the diameter of the cup and increasing the depth thereof. After the die mechanism has once become loaded the three operations will be performed simultaneously on different blanks, by each stroke of the press. mechanism being provided for automatically feeding discs from a magazine to the first sta.- tion and for transferring partially formed cups from one station to the next succeeding station in timed relation to the strokes of the press.

The die mechanism as a wholecomprises three .sets of dies I8, I8and 23. The die I3 consists of a stationary part 2| and a cooperating movable part 22; the die I3 consists of a stationary part 23 and a co-operating movable part 24 and atascos which is secured to a die support n come u the bed I of the press, and the movable parts 22,

the die 23 which forms the finished cups 33 of still lesser diameter and greater depth. The feeding and transfer mechanism for feeding the discs from the magazine to the die I3 and for `transferring the stamping from the die I3 to the die I3 and removing the nished cups or stampings 33 from the die 23 will be described in detail hereinafter.

In drawing cups from ilat sheet metal blanks it is necessary to hold the edges of the blanks with a certain definite pressure, which is dependent upon the design of the cup being drawn and the material used, while the cup is being drawn; otherwise the sides of the cup will be wrinkled. In reducing the diameter and increasing the depth of a cup, however, a blank holder is not necessary as the two operations are entirely dif-y ferent. I have therefore, provided a blankholder, generally indicated by the number 34, which operates in conjunction with the-die I3.

The blankholder 34 which is of the hydraulic type, it built into the die slide' and is operated, in proper timed relation to the die I3, by the reciprocation of the die slide. It includes a plate 35 which is connected by connecting rods 33 to four pistons 31 which are reciprocally mounted in cylinders 33 in the die slide 5. Removably secured to the lower face ofthe plate 35 is a blank engaging member 39, which surrounds the movable member 22 of the die I3 and is shaped according to the particular design of the cup being drawn. As will be seen in Figure 3 the blank engaging member 33 extends down beyond the lower end of the movable die member 22 when the die slide 5 is in its raised position, that is at the beginning of the down stroke. An oil reservoir 43, in the form of an airtight chamber,

^ pistons 31 therein. As the pistons 31 are moved upwardly in the cylinders 38 during the drawing operation, as will be presently described, they will force oil out of the cylinders 33 through the passageways 43 and relief valves 44 and into the chamber 43. The relief valves 44 may beset to open, at any desired pressure, which will determine the resistance tothe upward movement of the piston 31 and all parts connected thereto. From this it will be apparent that the setting of the relief valves 44 will determine the pressure exerted by the blankholder upon the blanks during the drawing operation. The check valves 42 and relief valves 44 are ofv standard construction, and since there are a number of different designs available, anyone of which may be used equally well, itis believed that it is not necessary to illustrate or describe them in detail here.

The operation of the blankholder V34 and dies I8, I9 and 23 will now be described. Let us assume that the slide 3 and the various other parts are in'y the position shown in Figure 3, and that va blank "is yinl position inthedie I8 and that-the y"partially completed cups' 3| an'd 32 'arevin posilmatic ymechanism is provided Afor discharging iffinished-stampingfromfa press.- r

- -1 Myjimprove'd form of stripping mechan tion'in 'the dies I9 and 29 as shown in" Figure 12.

fThfclutch I1 is engaged, which` will rotate the crankshaft-8 through the reduction gearing described 'hereinbeforep The operation .of the vclutch I1 is 'controlled" bya suitable standard control mechanism` not shown.

. Eachl rotation of the crankshaft 8 lwill reciprocatefthe die slide 5 from vthe position showninFigure 3, downto the position shown in Figure i and back to the ,"position" 'shown in 'Figure A3. The downward movement'of the die slide 5' will first bri'ng the blank" engagingv member 39 of the bla'nkholder v34 "into'engagement rwith the blank 29.' The `blankholder will then dwell and hold the edges o'f the 'blank29' with the predetermined' pressure, de- ]p`endentv upon the setting `o`f the relief valves v44,

while the die slide 5 and the movable parts 22, 24-and 26 kof the dies I8',"I9'and 29 continueon downwardly, the die VI8 drawing the cup 3| from the` blank vv29, the' die I9 drawing the cup 32 fromV the` 4cup 3l, and the die -20 'drawing the finished' cup 33 from the'cup 32'.` Due to 'the 'blankengagin'g member 39 extending down be low the 'bottom of the-movabledie member 22 it ""will engage' and hold the blank 'Z9-with thedesiredpressure before the die member 22 comes moved upwardly a distance 'equal to the distance it'moved downwardly 'after the blankholder'engaged theblank-'29. The blankholder will' remain stationary during this initial upward movement of the slide, due to oil being forced from the'chamber-40,` by the air pressure'i-therein,

' through the check valves 42- andlpassageways 43` into the cylinders 38 on top of the pistons 31, un-

til the lower ends of the pistons 31 engage' the cylinder heads andi then' vtl'ie blankholder`A and `die slide will move upwardly as a unit during-the remainder -of the upward movement of the slide. InI drawing cups of this character with dies of the typenshown 'there'is a tendency for the 'cups or'stamping to adhere to the movable die members. With most metal working apparatus of this typeit is .customary to provide some means for stripping Vthe.V cups or stamping from the movable die members.A This stripping mechanism is usually carried by the slide and' arranged to stripv the. stamping from the `rnn/ablenldie Vmember at or near the upper endof the press stroke.` I have provided an improved-stripping -means whichli's carried by and operatedbythe reciprocation :ofI the slide and which isarranged i to stripfthe stamping from the movable die member and force it out' of the stationary die meml ber at or near the bottom of the stroke. This type of stripping mechanism is particularly 'advantageous for use with automatic feedingand 'transfer' mechanisms yused in combination with s'm'v'm nowdbe described. yItfcon'sists generally QI. a

plunger, which'is normal! `urged .upwardly by air pressure, slidably mountedfin a vertical boreqin each of the movable parts 22,- l 24 .and 26: of--i-the -fdies 18; I9 and 2li. -andfmeans,.roperatedv bythe crankshaft, 'for depressing- 4thev plungers, within their respective bores,.inL timed relation tof the reciproc'atio'n ofrthe" die slidev r51s Eachxrplunger '.45 has' an enlarged head1' 46 and is islida'bly mounted inavertical bereft] inthe movable die imembers 22, 24 and 21;: Thevupperzends off-.the

plungers 45 are .connectedzto cross: bar 48:- which are slidably mounted in.ftransverse slots.. 4.9 Ain the die'slidei.` The cross bars-48 are;normally held at vtheetop .of `the slots 49, intthefposition shown 'in' Figures. 3 and` 5,"iby airoperated pistons 50,'fslidably*mounted-iin' cylinders 5 I inalignment with the"l cross fbars': 4'8" ynear each fend" thereof.

` Compressed' air is .supplied toJ the.y cylinders 5'I beneath fthe .pistonszbyfsuitable, flexible :connectionsffnot shown. JA pair of'slides 52,' extending lengthwise' of' the press- .-parallelf to' the "die f slide 5,' one infront thereof'andfone 'inthe rear thereof are mounted for ver'ticalfmovement'lin guides 53 .formedonv ori-secured' tos thecgibsf 6. The s'1ides`52 'are each'-adjustably.-.connected'lby `rods 54-tof.a"'-pair..of spaced parallel transversely extending cross'bars 55,' and :the cross bars 55. .are

'each secured tothe lower,ends-Lof'-y a co-operating pair of "rods'56 slidably mounted. in .verticalrbores 51. inthe crown of the. fpress;v Each of thegrods v51 has secured thereto by an adjustable extension 58 "a piston-59 'which-is slidablymounted ,in-a: cooperatingcy-linder Itl.A Air: underlpressure which is constantly supplied to the cylinder 80; .fbeneath 'fthe pistons 59 by suitable.connections-not shown,

urges the pistons v59 'upwardly andnormally=holds the cross "bars A l:and "the =.slides 52. connected follows.

'- and 5.

theretoup in'the position 'showny in Figures 3 Each of the slides 52 jhas-alatch .IiI-rpivotally mounted' inY alignment l with each fof' the three cross 'bars 48. These latches 6 Iaareibiased toward the die silde5f-fby spring pressed. plungers62. Each cross' bar '55-h'as azrolle'rf-83 mounted-there- ^on on a'short shaftI4v which-:iris c'arriedthereby.` The ro1lers-63 are adapted-"tobezengaged [by cooperating cams 65 `which aref-rigidly` secured to the A'crankshaft "8 rollers 53;

sin operative relation tofthe of the 'stripping devicexis; as The .crankshaft being rotated in va=.clock wise direction;l as previouslyl described, lwill 'move -the' dieslide 5 from' 'its uppermost position: shown 'The operation- =in Figure 3, -which'is'i thetop of' the stroke,- down to' itsA lowermosty position, the#bottom` .'offf. the

stroke, as shownv'in Eigureandfthedies I8,

I9'f and 2Ilv4 wil1"p'erforrn their-respectiveoperations I upon the V- stock; ,thereim` i The vvdownward movement of the" die slide "5fwill also-carry,t 1ithe -cross bars "48 downwardly unt'ilf; theyk areaengaged by the -spring p'ressjed latches 6 I, fwhichfoccurs .'just at the bottomof -the^stroke,'zwhen theslides 52 whichl carry,v the- I'atches :6 I: .are .properly-i adjusted; and `',he;ca'rns :65 areiso @constructed and arranged that they .i will :z'just .come f.into=.-contact 9 withvthefrollers `63 at 'theifbottom of thesstroke as a plurality of diesmounted in a press for simultaneously performing a plurality of different' opis` shown'in Figure 4; f The'fcontinuedzrotation of the crankshaft in' a clockwise' direction willgcause the cams 65 todepress the scrssribars 55 fwhich in turn willl depress `the s1ides'52. fThe depression erations. It is also especially usefulwhen autoj ofthe slides52 willfin turn;"throughithe latches 8|, kdepress the-cross bars'48 and they irlV turn 'will force the plungers 48 downwardly stripping the 'stamping oil the movable parts of the dies and forcing them down out of the stationary parts ofthe dies as is shown in Figure 6. The

l tion of the press, die mechanism, blankholder and Istripping mechanism I will now describe in detail the construction and operation of the feeding and transfer mechanism and its relation to .the various other mechanisms'just described.

It consists generally of a magazine, lin which a large member of preformed blanks are placed.

' -having means for moving successive blanks into position to be engaged by a suction cup which lifts the blanks out of the magazine into position to be fed into the die mechanism; an upper conveyor which includes a pair of spaced parallel barswhich are moved toward and away from each other to grasp and release the blanks and stampings and which are longitudinally shifted to feed a blank to the first die in the die mechanism and to simultaneously transfer stampings from a po sition between adjacent dies into operative position in the next successive die; a second conveyor, below the first conveyor which receives the stampings as they are forced out of the stationary part of the diesvby the stripping mechanism and transfers them to a position between adjacent dies; elevator mechanism which lifts the stampings up from the lower conveyor into position to be engaged by the upper conveyor; and means for operating the various parts in timed relation to each other.

The magazine 38 includes a base 51, which is rotatably supported upon an extension 88 of the bed I of thepress. A pluralityy of rods 88 which are secured to and extend upwardly from the base 81 form four compartments in which the preformed blanks or discs 28 are stacked. A support 18 is loosely mounted in each of the compartments in recesses 1| in the base 81. The supports 18 are adapted to be successively engaged by a rack 12 as the compartments are rotated into register therewith when the rack `is in its re- -tracted position. The rack 12 raises the support 18, and the blanks 28 supported therefrom, the thickness of one blank for every stroke of the press, The rack 12 is raised by a gear 13, meshing therewith, which is clutched to a shaft 14 by a clutch 15. The shaft 14 and gear 13 are rotated from a shaft 18 through suitable connecting gears in a case 11, and the shaft 18 is rotatedthrough a one way clutch 18 by links 18 which are connected to a pivoted lever 88 which is oscillated by a cam 8|, secured to one end of the crankshaft 8, through a connected rod 82 and slide 83. A one way clutch 84 similar to the clutch 18 but operating in the opposite direction is provided to keep the shaft 18 from being rotated in the opposite direction by the weight of the blanks 28 acting through the rack 12 and gear 13. In order that the supports, 18 may be raised manually so as to bring the top of each stack of blanks 28, supported thereupon, to the proper height before starting the press I provide a one way clutch 85,

similar to and working in the same direction as the clutch 18, which is operated by a treadle 88 through links 81. This renders it unnecessaryto always illlthe compartments of the magazine with blanks before starting operation. It also y when the rack isin operative. position in engagement withl one of the, supports 18` as shown in Figure 20. In order to rotate the magazine the rack must first be retracted down below the bottom of the base 81 which lowers the support 18 thereon down into the recess 1| where the rack leaves it.

,Asl the blanks 28 are raised by the rack 12 the top blank of the stack is engaged by a suction cup 88 and raised into position to be grasped by the upper conveyor which feeds the blanks into operay tive position inthe rst die of the die mechanism. The suction cup 88 is secured .to the lower end of a member 88 which is pivotally secured to the outer ends of a pair of parallel links 88 which have their inner ends pivotally secured to a bracket 8| extending outwardly from one of the uprights 2. 'The suction cup 88 is raised and lowered in proper timed relation to the rest ofthe apparatus by a cam 82, Figures 8 and 22 secured to one end of the crankshaft 8. The cam 82 is operatively connectedby an adjustable rod .83 to one of the parallel links 88 and raises and` lowers the suction cup 88 once for every stroke of the press.

As each blank is raised from the magazine 38 by the suction cup 88 it is grasped between the first of a plurality of pairs of grips 84 secured to transversely'and longitudinally movable bars 85. The bars each have an elongated lug 88 secured to the under side thereof near each end thereof. These lugs are slidably received for longitudinal movement in dovetail grooves 81 in blocks 88 which are slidably mounted .for transverse movement in dovetail grooves 88 formed in supports |88 and |8| secured to and extending outwardly from opposite sides of the press. With this construction the bars 85 can be moved both .transversely and longitudinally, bymechanism which will now be described.

The ends of the bars 85 opposite the magazine 38 each have secured to the under side thereof a block |82 which is slidably received for transverse movement in a dovetail groove |83 formed'in the upper part of a slide |84 which is mounted for longitudinal movement on the 4upper'surface of the support |8| between guides |85. A link |88 has one end thereof pivotally connected to the under side of the slide |84,as indicated at |81. The other end of the link |81 is pivoted at |88 to the upper end of a lever |88 which is keyed to a transversely extending shaft ||8 rotatably supported in suitable bearing in the support |8|. An arm is rigidly secured to one end of the shaft ||8. The outer end` of the arm is pivoted at ||2. to the lower end of an adjustable connecting rod I8 which has its upper end pivotally connected at i4 to the lower end of a vertical slide ||5 suitably mounted in a guide ||8. 'I'he slide I5 is reciprocated up and down in the guide I 8, with a long dwell in its up position, by a cam ||1 secured to one end of the crankshaft 8 and n of the lever |2| is pivotally connected at |24 to the upper ends of links |25 which have their ,lower ends pivotally connected at |26 to the upper end of the slide |I5. From the foregoing it will be readily seen that as the cam II'I is rotated it will reciprocate the slide ||5 which will in turn oscillate the shaft I|0 through thel connecting rod ||3 and arm III. The shaft ||0 when oscillated will through the lever |09 'and link |08 move the slide |04 and the bars 95 connected thereato back and forth longitudinally of the press, with a long dwell at one end of their movement, which is the position shown in Figures 11, 12, 14 and 15, and a short dwell at the other end of their movement, when they are in the position shown in Figures 16, 17, 19 and 20. The long dwell is during approximately 180 degrees rotation of the cam. and the short dwell is during approximately 60 degrees rotation of the cam I1, which is due to the contour of the cam track I I8.

During the dwells in the longitudinal movement of the bars 95 they are moved toward and away from each other transversely of the press by duplicate mechanisms at each end of the press, which are generally indicated by the numeral |21. Thebars 95 are moved away from each other, from the position shown in Figure 1l to the position shown in Figure 14, during the long dwell; and toward each other, from the position shown in Figure 16 to the position shown in Figure 19 during the short dwell.

The mechanisms |21 are illustrated in detail in Figures 13 and 18, Figure 13 showing the various parts in the position they assume after having moved the bars 85 toward each other to the position shown in Figures 11 and 19; and Figure 18 showing the parts in the position they assume after having moved the bars away from each other to the position shown in Figures 14 and 16. Since the mechanisms |21 at both-ends of the press are duplicates of each other a description of one will suflice for both. They are operated by the cams 8|, through the slides 83, connecting rods 82 and levers 80, previously referred to in connection with the description of the magazine and the mechanism for raising the stacks of blanks therein. An arcuate shaped arm |28 which is rigidly secured to the lever 80 is connected by a short link |29 to one of the blocks 98. A bell crank lever |30 pivotally supported at |3| has one arm thereof connected to another of the blocks 98 by a short connecting link |32, and the other arm thereof connected to the lever 80 by a short connecting link |33.

The cam 8| has a cam track |34 formed in the face thereof in which is received a roller |35 rotatably mounted on a stud |36 secured to the central section of a lever |31 which has one end pivotally connected to a lug |38 formed integral with the cam and gear casing |23. The other end of the lever |31 is pivotally connected at |39 to the upper ends of links |40 which have their lower ends pivotally connected at |4| to the upper end of the slide 83. The cam track |34 is so shaped that it reciprocates the slide 83 with a dwell in both its lowermost and uppermost positions during approximately 120 degrees rotation of the cam 8|. From the foregoing it will be apparent thatas the cam 8| rotates it .will reciprocate the slide 83 which will in turn rock the lever back and forth upon .its pivot. The lever 80 when it is rocked back and forth will oscillate the arms .|28 and |30 to move the bars 95 toward and away from each other ywith a dwell at the limits of their movement in both directions. The cams 8| are so set with respect to the cams 1 that the bars 95will be moved transversely of the press during thedWells in their longitudinal movement.

The cycle of movement of the bars is first to the position shown in Figure 11. where the long dwell in their longitudinal movement takes place. During thisV dwell they are moved transversely away from each other to the position shown in Figure 14 where they dwell during approximately degrees rotation` of the crankshaft. During this transverse dwell they are moved longitudinally to the position shown in Figure 16, where the short dwell in their longitudinal movement occurs. During this short dwell in the longitudinal movement of the bars 95 they are moved transversely toward each other to the position shown in Figure 19 bringing the first pair of grips 94 thereon into engagement with a blank 29 heldin position bythe suction cup 88. After the bars 95 have. been moved to this position there is another dwell in their transverse movement during which they are moved longitudinally in the reverse-direction back to the position shown in Figure 11, bringing the blank held in the lastpair of grips 94 into position in the die I8. After ilve cycles of operation of the bars 95, or five strokes of the press, the bars 95 moving through one complete cycle for every complete stroke of the press, there will bel a blank k29 held in each pair of grips 94. After that a blank 29 will be fed into the die I8 after each down stroke of the die slide 5, the blanks being fed progressively through succeeding pairs of grips 94. c The die support 28 is recessed beneath each of the dies I8, I9 and 20 as indicated at |42. A lower conveyor generally indicated by Jthe numeral |43 is slidably mounted, for longitudinal movement only, in guides |44 in the die support 28 and extends through the recesses l|42. The conveyor |43 consists of a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending bars |40 which are joined together at one end by a cross bar |41, and at their other end by a slide |48 mounted between guides |49.in the support Il ll.k The slide |48 is connected by a short link |50 tothe upper end of a lever |5| whichis rotatably supported on a stud shaft |52 secured within the support |0I. The lever |5| is connected by a short link |53 to the llower end of the lever |09 below the shaft ||0 as shown in yFigures 12 and 17. As the shaft ||0 is rocked or oscillated by the cam ||1, as hereinbefore described, the conveyor |43 will be reciprocated back `and forth `between the position shown in Figure 12 and the position shown in Figure 17. The upper conveyor and the lower conveyor' |43 will be moved simultaneously, the lower conveyor movthem down through and out of the stationary parts of the dies to the position shown in Figure 15 they are received between co-operating grips |56 on the conveyor bars |66 and moved from the position shown in Figure 15 to the position shown in Figure 1'1, where they are engaged by an elevator mechanism which lifts them from the position shown in Figure 17 to the position shown in Figure 20. After the cups have been raised to the position shown in Figure 20 they are engaged by the upper conveyor, between opposed co-operating grips |55 on the bars 65, and moved to the position shown in Figure 12, ready for the next operation.

The elevator mechanism which will now be described includes three aligned racks |56, each of which has an enlarged cup engaging and supporting head |51 secured to the upper end thereof. The racks |56 are slidably supported in guides |56 and are raised and lowered, in timed relation to the operation of the upper and lower conveyors, by co-operating gears |56 keyed to a shaft |66. The shaft |66 is rotated in first one direction and then the other by a segmental gear |6| which meshes with a pinion gear |62 keyed to one end of the shaft I 66. The segmental gear |6| is keyed to a shaft |66 which is rocked back and forth by the reciprocation of a rack |66 which meshes with a segmental gear |65 also keyed to the shaft |66. The rack, |66 is suitably supported in a guide |66, and is connected at its upper endto the lower end of an adjustable connecting rod |61 which has its upper end pivotly connected at |66 to the lower end of a vertical slide |66 suitably mounted in a guide |16. The slide |66 is reciprocated up and down in the guide |16, with a long dwell in its upper position and a short dwell in its lower position, by a cam 1| secured to one end of the crankshaft 6, which has a cam track |1| formed in the face thereof in which is received a roller |16 rotatably mounted on a stud |16 secured to the central section of a lever |15 which has one end thereof pivotly connected to a lug |16 formed integral with the cam and gear housing |26. The other end of the lever |15 is pivotly connected at |11 to the upper ends of links |16 which have their lower ends pivotly connected at |16 to the upper end of the slide |66. From the foregoing -it will be seen that as the cam |1| rotates with the crankshaft 6 the racks |56 will be quickly raised and lowered and will dwell in their lowermost position, shown in Figures 15 and 1'1 during about 160 degrees rotation of the crankshaft and in their uppermost position. shown in Figures 12 and 20, during about 60 degrees rotation of the crankshaft.

The general operation of the whole mechanism will now be described, the specific operation of each of the component parts having been delscribed in connection with the description of their construction. The magazine 66 is rst loaded with blanks and then turned to bring one of the stacks of blanks therein into proper register with the rack 12. The rack 12 is manually raised by the treadle 66 to bring the top of the stack of blanks to the proper position with respect to the suction cup 66, and the whole apparatus is then put into operation by engaging the clutch I1. The upper conveyor will take blanks from the suction cup 66, which lifts them successively from the top of the stack thereunder, and feed them into the die I6, in proper timed relation to the stroke of the die slide 5, to be engaged rst by the blankholder 66 and held 'claim is: Y 1. A device of the character described which thereby while the movable part 22 of the die I6' forcesthe-blank into the stationary part 2| of the die forming the cup 6I. The stripping mechanism then operates to strip the cup 6| of! the movable part 22 of the die |6 and down throush the stationary part 2| thereof onto 'the lower conveyor |66 as shown in Figure 15. The lower conveyor |66 then moves the cup 6| into position over the adjacent rack |56, as shown in Figure 18, which lifts the cup 6| Vup to the position shown in Figure 2\0 where it is engaged by the upper conveyor and moved into proper position in the die I6. The next stroke of the die slide forces the cup 6| down through the stationary part 26 of the die |6 forming the cup 62 which is stripped off of the movable part 26 of the die I6 and onto the lower conveyor |66, as shown in Figure 15. The lower conveyor 'then moves the cup 62 into position over the next rack |56 which raises the cup 62 into the position shown in Figure 12 where it is engaged -by the upper conveyor and moved into position in the die 26. The next stroke of the die slide- 5 forces the cup 62 down into the stationary part 25 of the die 26 forming the nished cup 66. 'I'he cup 66 is then stripped out of the die 26 and onto the lower conveyor 66 (Figure 15) which moves it into the position shown in Figure 18 where it is lifted by the rack |56 to the position shown in Figure 20 where it is engaged by the upper conveyor and moved partially out of the press to the position shown in Figure 12. After the whole apparatus has been completely loaded, the blanks 26 and the cups 6|, 62 and 66 will all be operated upon simultaneously every stroke of the press, and one finished cup 66 will be completed on each stroke as will be readily understood.

As the blanks 26 are fed from the magazine 66 into the die mechanism they are moved through a weighing station which consists of a platform' |66 secured to the upper ends of a pair of rods |6| which are adjustably secured to one vend of a pivoted .lever |62, pivotly supported at |66. A weight |66 is slidably mounted on the lever |62 adjacent the free end thereof. As the blanks are fed from the magazine 66 they are first deposited on the platform |66. The weight |66 is so adjusted that the platform will tilt, if more than `one blank 26 is deposited thereon at one time, and discharge the blanks down a chute |65. This prevents more than 'one disc at a time being fed into the die mechanism.

It will be understood that various modifications can be made in the commotion of my improved apparatusv as illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as pointed out in the following claims. Having thus described my invention what I includes a die mechanism having a plurality of successive dies therein and means for operating said dies in combination with means for feeding blanks into ksaid die mechanism and for transferring stampings from vone die to the next succeeding die, said means comprising, an upper conveyor for receiving blanks from a magazine and feeding them into said die' mechanism and for moving stampings from a position `between successive dies into position in the next suc--` cessive die, a lower conveyor for receiving stampings from onel of said dies and moving them to a position between successive dies, elevator mechanism for elevating stampings from said lower conveyor into position to be engaged by said upper conveyor and means for operating said conveyors and said elevator mechanism in timed relation to each other and to said die mechanism.

2. A device for feeding blanks into a, die mechanism and for transferring stampings from one die to the next succeeeding die in said die mechanism comprising, an upper conveyor for vfeeding blanksvfrom a magazine into said die mechanism and for transferring stampings from a position between successive dies into the next successive die, a lower conveyor for receiving stampings from said dies and transferring them to a position between successive dies, an elevator mechanism for elevating the stampings from said lower conveyor into position to be engaged by said upper conveyor and means for operating said conveyors and said elevator in timed relation to each other.

3. In a device of the character described the combination of a plurality of successive dies and means for transferring stampings from one die to the next successive die said means comprising, a lower conveyor for receiving stampings from one of said dies and conveying them to a position adjacent the next successive die, elevator mechanism for raising said stampings from said lower conveyor, an upper conveyor for conveying said stampings from said elevator into positions in the next successive die, and means for operating said conveyors and said elevator in timed relation to each other.

4. In a device of the character described the combination of a press having a reciprocal die slide therein and a rotatable crankshaft for reciprocating said slide, a plurality of dies operatively mounted in said press and operated by the reciprocation of said die slide, means for feeding blanks into one of said dies and for trans.. ferring stampings from one die to the next successive die, said means comprising, an upper con.. veyor for receiving blanks from a magazine and feeding them into one of said dies and for moving stampings from a position between successive dies into position in the next successive die, a lower conveyor for receiving stampings from one of said dies and moving them to a position between successive dies, an elevator mechanism for elevating stampings from said lower conveyor into position to be engaged by the upper conveyor and means operated by said crankshaft for operating said conveyors and said elevator mechanism in timed relation to each other and to said slide.

5. A device for successively transferring stampings from one die to the next succeeding die for performing a plurality of successive operations upon a blank comprising in combination, a lower conveyor which receives stampings from the dies and transfers them to a position between successive dies, an upper conveyor which moves the stampings from a position between successive dies into operative position in the next successive die, means for elevating stampings from the lower conveyor into position to be engaged by said upper conveyor and means for operating said conveyors and said elevating means in timed relation to each other.

6. A device of the character described including a plurality of successive dies for successively performing different operations on a blank in combination with means for feeding blanks from a magazine into one of said dies and for transferring stampings from one die to the next sucsaid conveyors and said elevator mechanism-in cessive die said means comprising, an upper l5 timed relation to each other.

'7. A device of the character described including a plurality of successive dies for successively performing a plurality of different operations on a blank in combination with means for successively transferring stampings from one die to the next successive die said means comprising, a lower conveyor for receiving stampings from one 'of said dies and moving them to a position between successive dies, an upper 'conveyor for moving said stampings from a position between successive dies into position in the next successive die, means for simultaneously reciprocating said conveyors longitudinally in opposite directions with a dwell at the 'limit of their movements in both directions, an elevator mechanism for lifting stampings from said lower conveyor up into position to be engaged by said upper conveyor, and eans for operating said elevator mechanism during dwells in the longitudinal movements of said conveyors.

8. A device of the character described including a plurality of successive dies for successively performing a plurality of different operations on a blank in combination with means for successively transferring blanks from one die to the next successive die said means comprising, a lower conveyor for receiving stampings from one of said dies and moving them to a position between successive dies, an upper conveyor including a pair of spaced parallel members for moving said stampings from a` position between successive dies into position in the next successive die, means for simultaneously reciprocating said members transversely in opposite directions with a dwell at the limits of their movements in both directions, means for simultaneously reciprocating said lower conveyor and said members longitudinally in opposite directions during dwells in the transverse movement of said members, an elevator mechanism for lifting stampings from said lower conveyor up into position to be engaged bythe said members of said upper conveyor and means for operating said elevator mechanism in timed relation to the operation of said conveyors.

9. A device of the character described including a plurality of successive dies for successively performing a plurality of different operations on a blank in combination with means for successively transferring blanks from one die to the next successive die said means comprising, a lower conveyor for receiving stampings from one of said dies and moving them to a position between successive dies, an upper conveyor including a pair of spaced parallel members for moving said stampings from a position between successive dies into position' in the next successive die, means for simultaneously reciprocating said lowerconveyor and said members longitudinally in opposite directions with a dwell at the limits of their movements in both directions, means for reciprocating said members transversely during dwells in their longitudinal movement, an

conveyor for receiving blanks from a magazine successively transferring blanksfrom one die to l0 the next successive die said means comprising,` a lower conveyor for receiving stampings from one oi' said dies and moving them to a position be`- tween successive dies, an upper conveyor including a pair of spaced parallel members for moving said stampings from a position between successive dies into position in the next successive die, means for simultaneously reciprocating said ribes lower conveyor and said members longitudinally in opposite directions with a dwell at the limits of their movement in both directions, means for simultaneously reciprocating said members transversely in .opposite directions with a dwellyatrthe- 1 limits of their movements in both directions, said lower conveyor and said members being reciprocated longitudinally during the dwells in the transverse movement of said members and said members being reciprocated transversely during the dwells in their longitudinal movement,-

:an elevator mechanism for lifting stampings from said lower conveyor up into position 4to be engaged by the said members ot said upper conveyor and means for operating said elevator mechanism in timed relation to the operations of said conveyors.

WILLIAM F. LONGFIELD. 

